Being a homeowner definitely has its challenges, not the least of which involve heating and cooling concerns. Many people make mistakes when it comes to the heating and cooling efficiency in their home. If you’re a homeowner, it’s important to be aware of the common heating mistakes you could potentially be making. So, here are just a few examples of common mistakes made when heating your home.
Maintenance Neglect:
Like most appliances, your HVAC system requires a certain level of maintenance to continue its optimal performance. To avoid the need for heating repairs, filters should be cleaned regularly. Neglecting to perform preventative, routine maintenance procedures can shorten the life of your entire HVAC system. Keep in mind that the most important seasons during which to keep up with maintenance are the spring and fall months.
Closed Blinds and Curtains:
While most people prefer to sleep with the curtains closed to avoid being blinded by sunlight in the morning, keeping your curtains open during the night can actually help warm up your home during the early morning hours. Taking full advantage of the warmth provided by sunlight can prevent you from needing to continuously turn up the thermostat and save you money in the long run. Getting a handle on these situations can also be helpful to the environment. If you live in a cold climate, then merely upgrading the furnace in your home can improve efficiency by anywhere between 50% and 90%.
Thermostat Abuse:
Although your heater does have the capacity to turn your home into a warm oasis, that doesn’t mean you should let it. Forcing your heater to run at its full capacity shortens its lifespan and increases the frequency of necessary maintenance. Experts estimate that every degree you raise your thermostat over 72 degrees raises your utility bills by between 1% and 3%. If you consider those amounts on a season-wide scale, you could be spending hundreds of extra dollars each year on unnecessary heating expenses. Not only that, but if your furnace is already old, cranking your thermostat could cause a further need for heating repairs. Furthermore, thermostat abuse also occurs when you leave your furnace running for hours at a time, especially if you aren’t even home. Avoid this by investing in a programmable thermostat that can turn the heat off when you’re not home.
Ultimately, it’s only natural for first-time homeowners to make some of these mistakes. But by being conscious of the way you’re treating your HVAC system, you can extend its lifespan exponentially. For more information about heating repairs, contact Hager Fox.
